Ladd's Addition

When we moved to Portland we became a one-car family.  Some thought that we would certainly regret the decision--some thought even one car was too many!

But I've discovered that Portland is very easy to get around.  The scale of the city is quite manageable--city blocks are not huge here, and the grid layout of the streets make it very easy (even for map-challenged me) to find addresses.  Car parking is always a hassle in cities, even though there does seem to be plenty of lots, garages, and on-street parking.  So I've pretty much given up using the car unless I'm headed out of town.

On a recent ride to and from an eastside neighborhood art show, Matthew and I rode from our house, across the Steel Bridge, and out to the southeast neighborhood known as Ladd's Addition.  The art show was being held in various homes and churches throughout the 'hood, and we visited about 10 different spots.  Portland's southeast side has a rep as kind of a funky neighborhood, shouldering the "Keep Portland Weird" banner for all of us.  Ladd's Addition is a neighborhood that was platted in the late 1800's, and goes against the grid-grain that is so Portland.  The neighborhood itself is contained in a square, with angled streets, public rose gardens and roundabouts sprinkled liberally throughout.  Once inside Ladd's Addition, it's easy to get turned around.  The streets angle toward a giant roundabout/rose garden in the center of the neighborhood.  The mature trees reveal the age of the 'hood, creating a shady oasis for peds and cyclists.  The streets feel calm, caused by a combination of the roundabouts, the angled streets, and the irresistible urge to ogle all the charming houses--some of which are historic sites. Ladd's Addition is completely residential, with the exception of a church or two.  It seems isolated, with a kind of Hansel and Gretel feel to it.  But right at the edge of the forest (um, neighborhood), is SE Division, awash with Portland's weirdest. 

We rode around Ladd's Addition, and stopped at about 10 different shows.  Some were single artists, others were gatherings of multiple artists.  At a church we saw everything from fabric art to photography to metal art to modern acrylics.  In another basement we met a very talented artist, Jonathan Liu.  Check out his website for fun pen and ink drawings, and also Etch-a-Sketch art.  He's moving to Tribune, Kansas this month (August 07), as his wife has is a physician and has a job lined up there.  Oddly enough, we know about Tribune, having ridden through there on our x-county trip in 2006.  Portland will miss Jonathan's gentle sense of humor.  We met Jonathan at the home of Bonnie and Hap Pritchard, and discovered that they were x-country cyclists, too.  We had a great time chatting with them about their trip.  Also showing with Jonathan was Emily Pritchard, a wildly-talented artist with a penchant for tissue paper and animals. 

Another house was packed full of artisans who created jewelry from glass and stones and fantastic felt hats.  At a lovingly-restored Craftsman, Liz Allen's studio showcased her watercolor and ink artistry.  Liz has a great way of portraying pets--with or without their people.

By the time we got back home, it was late afternoon.  I'd had a perfectly wonderful day--what's better than cycling and art-hopping?  I purchased three of Jonathan's pen and ink illustrations of Portland landmarks--the "Made In Oregon" White Stag sign, the Hung Far Low building sign and the Steel Bridge--as well as 4 greeting cards--Portland Theater, St. John's Bridge, Portland Classical Chinese Garden and the Benson Bubblers.  We headed back toward the Steel Bridge and our home at McCormick Pier, laden with art and neighborhood discoveries.  And after all of that?  Our odometers had tracked our mileage--a whopping 8 miles.  Scale. Balance. Ease. Smile. Bicycles.